Gusty Santa Ana Winds batter region Wednesday

By Reginald Stanley. Posted April 30, 2014, 1:10 PM.

A round of Santa Ana Winds arrived in the region Tuesday, bringing single-digit humidities, very warm temperatures and haze with it.

Wind gusts so far have exceeded 40mph in favored locations, while most communities have experienced between 20mph and 40mph gusts. Simi Valley, which typically takes the worst of these events, recorded a peak gust of 50mph Wednesday morning. Anza recorded 43mph, and San Bernardino recorded 41mph - the winds at that location can produce false precipitation readings as the rain gauge on-site is battered by the winds. Other high wind gusts reported have been 40mph in Canyon Crest, 39mph in nearby Presidential Park (both located in Riverside), 37mph in both Cherry Valley and Jurupa Valley, 36mph in Perris and 35mph in Temecula.

Peak gusts over the last 12 hours are much more dramatic at some of the National Weather Service's remote stations. At Sill Hill, located in San Diego County, a gust of 101mph was reported Wednesday morning. In the Fremont Canyon - a notoriously windy location - 91mph was reported. The San Diego County mountains have reported continuous gusts well in excess of 70mph Wednesday.

Unseasonably warm temperatures are occurring as well, continuing a pattern of persistent above-normal temperatures this year so far. The warmest locations on Tuesday were closer to the coast - those being De Luz, Fallbrook and San Diego's City Heights, all three of which recorded high temperatures of 92 degrees. Not far behind were the inland communities, almost all of which recorded high temperatures between 86 and 91 degrees. Only Anza and Cherry Valley, both at higher elevations, recorded high temperatures below 80 degrees. Overnight temperatures were exceptionally warm for this time of year as well. Temperatures did not fall below 60 degrees Tuesday night in many areas, the warmest low being recorded in Fallbrook, with a warm 70 degrees - low temperatures not usually seen until August.

Santa Ana Winds are uncommon during this time of year. Such events typically take place in Fall, but can range from late-summer through winter. This week's Santa Ana Wind event has been similar to one that would normally occur in October or November. The last Santa Ana Wind event to occur in April was in 2008, however that event was much weaker. These events are least likely to occur in Spring and early Summer.

Gusty Santa Ana Winds, warm temperatures and low humidities are expected to continue through at least Thursday in the region. A cooling trend is forecast to take place early next week.